Attached is a circuit that is to be a temperature and humidity sensor. As I have it drawn, it will require a 5 wire cable. The designer's intention was to power the TS555 only when needed, so I have a separate lead for the TS555 power and the LM34DZ power. I could reduce the cable to 4 wires in one of two ways: either power the TS555 continuously, or power the LM34DZ intermittently along with the TS555.

Opinions? Pros? Cons?

The circuit will interface with a microcontroller.

 

If that is straight 5 wire cable, you will soon come to know all about cross-talk. I would use 3 twisted pairs. Or two if you keep power on.

 

4 conductor cat 5 twisted pair phone wire has 2 pairs of twisted wire and its pretty cheap.

How about this? Digitize the 2 analog signals with a cheap 8 pin microcontroller. Then use 1 wire to send back 2 alternating streams of data at 2 different rates or periods. Decode the data at the base station. Now your down to 3 wires.

Modulate the 5v power wire with the data streams and your down to 2 wires.

Pound 2 ground stakes in earth and now its 1 wire! J/K